Panasonic Viera Plasma – An Industry Leader
Posted by hdtv buying guide on June 30, 2009 under HDTV Reviews, Panasonic, Plasma HDTV | 
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In the electronics world, Panasonic is known as the home of plasma. Originally the playground of a number of companies, plasma has narrowed to just a select few. Vizio, Pioneer and a host of others have all abandoned ship.
In their absence, Panasonic has picked up the slack and turned into a dominant force.
The company’s Viera high-definition television line includes LCD screens as well, but plasma is the star.
It all starts with the X-Series television. Designed for buyers on a budget, the X-Series models all have 720p resolution and a number of basic features like Viera link, which allows easy control of Viera-branded peripheral devices.
The very basic X-Series televisions, like the Panasonic Viera TC-L32X1, will have model numbers that start with X1, while the next step up will have an X14 designation.
Just a short move up the price chain, near the $1,000 range, is the U1 series. It’s the first Panasonic line with 1080p resolution. The only real upgrade is the resolution.
The next step is the S1 series, which is designed for sports or movie watching. Panasonic’s Neo PDP panel delivers all of the action at 1080p resolution. The S14 is the older brother of the S1 series, and includes upgrades to the panel itself. The rest of the features remain the same.
The G10 series is where Panasonic’s plasma offerings really start competing. The displays are THX certified, meaning they meet the rigorous standards of George Lucas’ (of Star Wars fame) production company.
Additionally, the G10 series enables Viera Cast, which can stream content from the internet and display it on the TV. Prices start around $1,500 and top $2,000 for larger screens. The 50 inch Viera TC-P50G10, for example, can be had for about $1800.
The G15, Z1and V10 plasma series are at the top of the Panasonic ladder. The G15 is two inches deep, while the Z1 is even thinner at 1 inch deep. While the features on all of them are similar, the Z1 adds wireless HD connectivity without an extra box. That means HD streaming from your computer to your TV is possible without added devices. Each of the high-end series will start around $2,000.
Price-wise, it’s hard to beat the picture quality of plasma. LCD screens are getting better, but plasma is still recognized as the leader. A similar-sized plasma-screen TV will typically be hundreds less than its LCD cousin.
And to get on board with the leader of leaders, head for Panasonic.
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